können
to be able to / can
können means to be able to / can.
Use können when someone has the ability, skill or possibility to do something.
At C1 we mix tenses and focus on small differences: nicht dürfen (forbidden) vs. nicht müssen (not necessary), passive modals, and FSP-style dialogues.
| Person | Context | können |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | könnte |
| du | you (one person, informal) | könntest |
| er/sie/es | he / she / it | könnte |
| wir | we | könnten |
| ihr | you (several people, informal) | könntet |
| sie/Sie | they / you (formal, one or more people) | könnten |
German has three ways to say you:
- du – informal, one person
- ihr – informal, several people
- Sie – formal, one or more people (always capitalised when it means “you”)
The word sie (lowercase) can also mean she or they. Context and the verb form tell them apart:
- sie ist = she is
- sie sind = they are
- Sie sind = you are (formal)
Clinical register: In medical practice, use Sie with patients. Du/ihr are for colleagues, friends, or family.
Medical examples with the three you forms:
- Du könntest Deutsch sprechen
You (informal, one person) could speak German - Ihr könntet Deutsch sprechen
You (informal, several people) could speak German - Sie könnten Deutsch sprechen
You (formal) could speak German
- Deutsch sprechen – speak German
- langsam gehen – walk slowly
- gut schlafen – sleep well
- dem Arzt helfen – help the doctor
- Affirmative: Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
I can speak German - Negative: Du konntest nicht langsam gehen.
You (informal, one person) could not walk slowly - Affirmative: Der Patient könnte gut schlafen.
The patient could sleep well - Affirmative: Sie könnten dem Arzt helfen.
You (formal) could help the doctor - Question: Kannst du Deutsch sprechen?
Can you (informal, one person) speak German? - Negative: Wir konnten nicht langsam gehen.
We could not walk slowly
- Conjugation — type the correct form for each person.
- Multiple choice — pick the verb that fits the sentence.
- Fill in the blank — type the missing modal form.
- Reorder — put the words in correct German order (modal in position 2, infinitive at the end).
- Dialogue — fill in the missing verb at the start of a doctor-patient question.
- Error correction — find and fix the wrong verb form.
- Translate — write the German sentence from English.
- Match — pair persons with forms or verbs with meanings.
Translate to German: You (formal) could speak German
Show answer
Sie könnten Deutsch sprechen.
Translate to German: You (informal, one person) could not walk slowly
Show answer
Du könntest nicht langsam gehen.
Ask the question in German: Could you (informal, one person) sleep well?
Show answer
Könntest du gut schlafen?
Put the words in the correct order: Der / helfen / könnte / dem / Arzt / Patient
Show answer
Der Patient könnte dem Arzt helfen
- Meaning: können means to be able to / can.
- Key forms: At C1, können appears in several tenses. Pay attention to register: use Sie with patients and du/ihr with colleagues.
- Word order: Choose the right tense and modal verb for the medical context.
- Register: Use Sie with patients; du/ihr with peers, friends or family.
Practice this verb with exercises, or take a mixed test with all verbs.